UPDATE at 9:03 p.m. – A child was killed and seven other people, including another child, were injured today when a big rig, a dump truck and a minivan crashed in the McClure Tunnel linking the Santa Monica (10) Freeway and Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica.
The crash occurred about 12:35 p.m. on the westbound side of the freeway, according to Robin Gee, public information manager with the city of Santa Monica.
Two children were critically injured in the wreck and taken to hospitals, where one died, Santa Monica Fire Department Deputy Chief Tom Clemo said. The children’s ages were not immediately known.
Six other people — five from the minivan and one of the truck drivers — suffered moderate injuries in the crash, Clemo said.
The injured truck driver declined to be taken to a hospital against medical advice, Gee said. The rest were taken to hospitals, she said.
The crash shut down both directions of the Santa Monica Freeway, backing up traffic into the Mid-City area. Eastbound lanes reopened at about 2 p.m., but westbound lanes were not reopened until around 6:30 p.m.
The crash also caused a major backup on the PCH, California Highway Patrol Officer Peter Bishop said.
Traffic on surface streets also was snarled as motorists sought to make their way through the area.
UPDATE at 3:15 p.m. – At least one person was killed and six others injured today when two big rigs and a minivan crashed in the McClure Tunnel linking the Santa Monica (10) Freeway and Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, authorities said.
The crash happened about 12:35 p.m. on the westbound side, said Robin Gee, public information manager with the city of Santa Monica. The Santa Monica Fire Dept. initially reported that seven victims were transported to hospitals. It is not clear if the fatal victim was among those transported.
The driver of one of the big rigs declined to be taken to a hospital against medical advice, Gee said.
The crash shut down the westbound Santa Monica Freeway at Lincoln Boulevard and caused major backup on the southbound PCH leading to the tunnel, said California Highway Patrol Officer Peter Bishop.
The westbound 10 was not expected to be reopened before 5 p.m., said Santa Monica Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Tom Clemo said.
[Original Story below]
One person is dead and two children were among eight people injured today when two big rigs and a minivan crashed in the McClure Tunnel linking the Santa Monica (10) Freeway and Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, authorities said.
The crash happened about 12:35 p.m. on the westbound side, San Monica Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Tom Clemo told KCAL9.
Clemo said all of the victims — including one fatality and two in critical condition — were in the minivan.
One critically injured patient was airlifted from the scene and the other transported to a hospital by ground ambulance, Clemo said.
The crash shut down the westbound Santa Monica Freeway at Lincoln Boulevard and caused major backup on the southbound PCH leading to the tunnel, said California Highway Patrol Officer Peter Bishop.
The westbound 10 was not expected to be reopened until before 5 p.m., Clemo said.
